Microblogging platform Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk has announced $8 monthly charge for verified Twitter accounts. The announcement comes days after the world’s wealthiest man took sole control of the social media giant in a contentious $44 billion deal.
“Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit. Power to the people! Blue for $8/month,” he wrote, suggesting that a tick could be given to accounts that subscribe to the platform’s premium service, Blue, for $8 a month. he tweeted, in reference to the platform’s famous blue checkmark that signals a verified, authentic account.
Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit.
Power to the people! Blue for $8/month.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022
“This will also give Twitter a revenue stream to reward content creators,” Musk tweeted. In addition to offering verification privileges, the new program would take over the existing functions of Twitter Blue – currently available for $5 per month – which, for example, allows users to edit their tweets.
To all complainers, please continue complaining, but it will cost $8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2022
He tried to calm the nerves by reassuring that the site would not become a “free-for-all hellscape,” and announced the formation of a content moderation council.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022
The Washington Post has reported that Musk, whose account bio currently reads “Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator,” plans to fire some 75 percent of his new company´s 7,500 employees. Musk´s previous comments condemning Twitter´s content moderation policies as heavy-handed – as well as his frequent posts of boundary-testing memes – has given pause to some advertisers, the company´s main source of revenue. While the blue check mark has emerged as a status symbol for users, it’s also designed to ensure people can determine which accounts are authentic and which are not, particularly for celebrities, brands and other influential accounts. If Musk were to create a paid barrier for verification, there are concerns it could make it harder to distinguish whether a notable name is a bot or not.
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